Modular Arrangement of Functional Units for Household Appliances and Household Appliances Comprising a Modular Arrangement of the Functional Units

ABSTRACT

An arrangement of functional units for one of the following household appliances: refrigerator or freezer, electric cooker, dishwasher, and washing machine. Said household appliance comprises a device body and the arrangement comprises at least three of the following functional units: at least one ventilator, at least one condenser, at least one electronic system, at least one valve, at least one transformer, and an evaporator. The at least three functional units are arranged together on a support and can be functionally, in particular, electrically and/or fludically connected to the device body as a module. The invention also relates to a household appliance comprising the inventive modular arrangement, whereby the arrangement and the device body are functionally, in particular, electrically and/or fluidically connected together. The invention is characterised in that mounting, maintenance and/or repairs of the household appliances are significantly simplified.

The invention relates to an arrangement of functional assemblies for one of the following domestic appliances: refrigerators and/or freezers, electric ovens, dishwashers and washing machines; together with domestic appliances such as for example refrigerators and/or freezers, electric ovens, dishwashers or washing machines.

The provision of functional assemblies, such as for example a fan, a condenser, an electronic unit, a valve, a transformer, an evaporator etc., in a housing such as for example in a motor space, where the individual functional assemblies are essentially affixed individually to the housing of the domestic appliance, is well known. The individual functional assemblies are generally screwed directly onto the housing of the domestic appliance. Particularly in the case of domestic appliances where the access to the motor space is limited, assembly, maintenance or repair are difficult and expensive due to the restricted space in the very compact constructions which are the objective in most cases. Maintenance or repair is particularly difficult in the case of built-in appliances, because they must usually be dismantled first in order to get at particular functional assemblies.

It is the object of the present invention to arrange in a suitable way functional assemblies for one of the following domestic appliances: refrigerators and/or freezers, electric ovens, dishwashers and washing machines, or to specify a domestic appliance of this type, as appropriate, such that the assembly, maintenance and repair can be organized in a simpler, more user-friendly and also more reliable way.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by the arrangement or the domestic appliance, as applicable, as specified in the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and developments, which can be applied individually or can be combined with each other in any suitable desired way, are the subject of each of the dependent claims.

The inventive arrangement of functional assemblies for one of the following domestic appliances: (A1) a refrigerator and/or a freezer, (A2) an electric oven, (A3) a (dish)washer, and (A4) a washing machine, where the domestic appliance has an appliance body, includes at least three of the following functional assemblies: (B1) at least one fan, (B2) at least one condenser, (B3) at least one electronic unit, (B4) at least one valve, (B5) at least one transformer, (B6) an evaporator, where at least three of the functional assemblies are arranged together on one carrier and can be functionally connected as a module with the device body, in particular to transmit fluid and/or electrically. It is particularly preferred if the domestic appliance is a refrigerator and/or a freezer, because here the thick walls required for thermal insulation impose special requirements on a compact construction. The combinations of functional assemblies (B1), (B2) and (B3), or (B2), (B3) and (B5), are preferred.

By arranging at least three of the functional assemblies as a module, the assembly, maintenance and repair are substantially simplified, because the module can be separately pre-assembled, fitted into or removed from the domestic appliance and/or replaced. In this sense, the term module means that the three or more functional assemblies are combined or grouped together, separately from any appliance body, appliance housing or from the remainder of the domestic appliance, and together are arranged on or attached to the carrier. The carrier can be preassembled with the functional assemblies, as a module. By this means, the complexity during assembly or when removing or converting it can be substantially simplified. The functional assemblies should, in particular, be appropriate for customer service, i.e. should affect those components of the domestic appliance which commonly necessitate rectification, repair or customer service work over the service life of the domestic appliance.

For the purpose of holding the module or the modular arrangement, the domestic appliance, in particular its housing or motor space, is provided with suitable mountings. The carrier has, in particular, plug connectors for the functional connections. Functional connection here means that the functional modules arranged on the carrier are joined to the domestic appliance by the connection in such a way that the functional assemblies can undertake their functions. The functional connection can be to transmit electricity or fluid. It is advantageous if the plug connector has a push-on connector strip. Using a push-on connector strip, numerous connections for transmitting electricity and/or fluid can be established between the carrier and the appliance body or the domestic appliance, as applicable.

It is advantageous if the plug connector has locking elements for fixing the functional connection positively into position. Using locking elements it is possible, in particular, to prevent the plug connector from being unintentionally released, and the functional connection between the carrier and the device body, and hence between the functional assemblies and the domestic appliance, being interrupted. This is particularly important in respect of connections which transmit fluid, in order to avoid leakage.

It is advantageous if at least four of the functional assemblies are arranged together on the carrier. A preferred combination is, for example, the functional assemblies (B1), (B2), (B3) and (B5).

The domestic appliance in accordance with the invention, in particular (A1) a refrigerator and/or freezer, (A2) an electric oven, (A3) a dishwasher or (A4) a washing machine, with its appliance body, includes the modular arrangement in accordance with the invention, where the arrangement in accordance with the invention and the appliance body are connected to each other functionally, in particular for the transmission of electricity and/or fluid. The removal or separation of the modular arrangement from the appliance body of the domestic appliance can, in particular, be simply effected, i.e. using a plug system. In particular, the functional assemblies located on the carrier can also be preassembled or the modular arrangement can be tested, before the carrier is installed in the domestic appliance. The removal or replacement of the functional assemblies is particularly simple, even if only little space is provided in the appliance housing. For example, the module can simply be pulled out.

In particular, the appliance body and the arrangement can be functionally connected using a plug system. The functional connection can be effected by directly plugging-on or connecting a wiring harness or a fluid line.

It is advantageous if the plug system includes push-on connector strips. The use of push-on connector strips makes the connection or release or replacement of the modular arrangement particularly simple and reliable. In particular, the probability of the occurrence of loose contacts in the case of electrical connections or leakage in the case of a connection for transmitting fluid can by this means be particularly effectively reduced.

A guide rail for holding, in particular for pushing in, the arrangement is in particular provided on the appliance body.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention locking elements, in particular clips, are provided on the arrangement or on the appliance body, for locking and fixing the functional connection. The use of the locking elements prevents the modular arrangement being unintentionally released from the appliance body, or the functional connection between the functional assemblies and the domestic appliance being interrupted. The locking elements have a security function.

It is advantageous that the invention produces modules which can easily be preassembled and worked on outside the motor space. In particular, the modules can be tested and specified before they are built into the domestic appliance.

The modules can be easily mounted using push-on connector strips or guide rails, and in customer service situations too they can easily be removed from the appliance housing again. Components which in the past have been difficult to get at and, in some circumstances could only be accessed by dismounting other components or in the case of built-in appliances sometimes by uninstalling the entire appliance, can now be reached easily and rapidly.

The modular arrangement is arranged in particular in a motor space in the domestic appliance. It is preferably provided in the appliance housing for the domestic appliance and has, in particular no separate housing enclosing the carrier and the functional assemblies, i.e. it does not have its own housing. The modular arrangement has, in particular, no separate housing of its own around the functional assemblies.

Further advantageous details and special embodiments, which can be applied individually or can be combined with each other in any suitable desired way, will be explained in more detail by reference to the following drawing, which is not intended to restrict the invention but rather to illustrate one example.

This shows schematically:

FIG. 1 a modular arrangement in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 in a domestic appliance in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 3 a modular arrangement as it is being pushed into a domestic appliance, and

FIG. 4 another modular arrangement.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the modular arrangement 1 in accordance with the invention, with a transformer 6, an electronic unit 4 and a fan 2, which are fixed together on a carrier 8 to form a module. The transformer 6, the electronic unit 4 and the fan 2 are functional assemblies 11, which in this way are combined to form a module, which can jointly be installed into or removed from a domestic appliance 10. The module does not have any other housing of its own. To simplify the installation or removal or exchange of the modular arrangement 1, one face of the arrangement 1 is provided with a plug connector 12, which is provided as a push-on connector strip 13 for connections to the domestic appliance 10.

FIG. 2 shows the modular arrangement 1 in a domestic appliance 10, a section of which is shown here as a perspective view in partly cutaway form. With the help of a guide rail 14, the modular arrangement 1 is pushed into an appliance body 9 of the domestic appliance 10, whereby the push-on connector strip 17 establishes a connection with a plug system 16 on the appliance body 9, so that the fan 2, the electronic unit 4 and the transformer 6 are connected functionally, and hence electrically, with the domestic appliance 10. The unintentional release of the push-on connector strip 13 from the plug system 16 is prevented by a locking element 15. With the help of the modular arrangement 1, the fan 2, the electronic unit 4 and the transformer 6 can quickly be pushed in or pulled out together, without the need to fully open the appliance body 9 or any device housing. Also, the fan 2, the electronic unit 4 and the transformer 6 can be premounted as functional assemblies 11 on the carrier 8, and can be specified or tested together before the installation of the modular arrangement 1 into the housing of the domestic appliance 10. By this means, the assembly and specification of the parts is substantially simplified, faults during assembly are avoided and rectification is organized more cost-effectively. In particular, it is not necessary first to uninstall other components (not shown) in order to gain access to the functional assemblies 11.

FIG. 3 shows another modular arrangement 1, which is pushed in on an appliance body 9 with the help of a guide rail 14. Here again, a push-on connection strip 13 with a locking element 15 is provided on the modular arrangement 1. Apart from an electronic unit 4, the carrier also accommodates an evaporator 7.

FIG. 4 shows a modular arrangement 1 for a domestic appliance 10 in the form of a refrigerator and/or freezer, with a condenser 3 and a valve 5 and an electronic unit 4, which are accommodated together as functional assemblies on the carrier 8. The individual functional assemblies 11 are suitably functionally connected with each other or with the domestic appliance 10 via fluid lines 17 or electrical wires 18, as appropriate. The carrier 8 is connected to the appliance 10 at the push-on connector strip 13.

The invention relates to an arrangement 1 of functional assemblies 11 for one of the following domestic appliances 10: (A1) a refrigerator and/or a freezer, (A2) an electric oven, (A3) a dishwasher, and (A4) a washing machine, where the domestic appliance 10 has an appliance body 9 and the arrangement 1 includes at least three of the following functional assemblies 11: (B1) at least one fan 2, (B2) at least one condenser 3, (B3) at least one electronic unit 4, (B4) at least one valve 5, (B5) at least one transformer 6, (B6) an evaporator 7, where at least three of the functional assemblies 11 are arranged together on a carrier 8 and can be functionally connected as a module, in particular for the transmission of electricity or fluid, with the appliance body 9; and a domestic appliance 10 incorporating the modular arrangement 1 in accordance with the invention, where the arrangement 1 and the appliance body 9 are connected to each other functionally, in particular for the transmission of electricity or fluid. The invention is distinguished by the fact that this substantially simplifies the assembly, maintenance or repair of the domestic appliance 10.

LIST OF REFERENCE MARKS

-   1 Arrangement -   2 Fan -   3 Condenser -   4 Electronic unit -   5 Valve -   6 Transformer -   7 Evaporator -   8 Carrier -   9 Appliance body -   10 Domestic appliance -   11 Functional assemblies -   12 Plug connector -   13 Push-on connector strip -   14 Guide rails -   15 Locking elements -   16 Plug system -   17 Fluid lines -   18 Electrical wire 

1-11. (canceled)
 12. An arrangement of functional assemblies for one of the following domestic appliances (A1) a refrigerator and/or a freezer, (A2) an electric oven, (A3) a (dish)washer, or (A4) a washing machine, where the domestic appliance has an appliance body and the arrangement includes at least three of the following functional assemblies: (B1) at least one fan, (B2) at least one condenser, (B3) at least one electronic unit, (B4) at least one valve, (B5) at least one transformer, (B6) an evaporator, characterized in that at least three of the functional assemblies are arranged together on a carrier and can be functionally connected as a module, in particular for the transmission of electricity or fluid, with the appliance body. 